Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-06
THE AFGHAN UPRISING.
Progress OF the Ghilzai RevOlt-The
Capture 0f the khybcr PaSs-Descrip.
ton of the Captured Stratcgical

A caoegram published in Wednesdays STAR
stated that the Afghan Insurgents now mold
Khyber Pass and the surrounding hills. Previous
reports stated that the ameers troops had been
routed near Jellalabad and Maruf; that Khelat-i-
Ghilzai had been captured, and that Ghuznee was
surrounded by the rebeIEious Ghiizais while Can
dahar was threatened by them. Ghuznee and
KheIat-i-Ghihai are important fortresse5 on the
highways between Cabul and Candahar and the
khyber Pass Is the famous mountain gate on the
direct road between the Punjaub and Cabul
khelat--Ghilzai, one OF the places which has
fallen into the insurgents hands ia eighty-seyen
,nlles northeast Of candahar: Although it is an
character In the war OF 1S4l-2 Capt cragfe held
the place for months with but ao men, OF ftssgn
only 40 were Europeans. Kheiati-GEil1n is at
the southern extremity OF the country Inhabited
oy the Ghilzai tribe which is now in Instruction.
ine fortress stands on barren eminence to the
Tight OF the Tarnak and is Described bv KAYE as
one OF the dreariest and bieakest spots OF all the
GhIznee, which Is surrounded nv .be insurgents
IS one OF the most important fortresses in Afghan
Islah, ana mas had history OF remarkable yiciSsi-
tuGes. IL lies 23 miles northeast OF CandahaT,
and only IS miles southwest OF Cabul. IL stands
on the left bank OF the Ghuznee River, on some
ma Dare and dreary plain, close 70 a spur run
ming out east and west from the GuIkOh range.
The town forms an Irregular square about a
miie In circuit, and is grit by high wall rising
-!TOn lne top or mound and built OF stone and
bricx masonry laid in mud and clay. 1t Is thanked
at Irregular intervals by towers and surrounded by
ahsit OF the Town on an abrupt detached Knoll,
and being 80 feet high above the plain and
Iortined, IL commanded the city. completely. In
1S4s, however 10 was destroyed by order of Gen.
Mott; and it would appear from the recent tele-
grams that no restoration OF the Qualifications has
been attempted The position OF the town is one
OF great strategfcal Importance as part OF a line
or defense from Cabul TO Candahar against an
invader from the west, or as a point whence to
control the Ghilzais HaZaras and other jnhabi-
fantS OF this elevated portion OF Afghanistan. The
city ltself Is composed OF dark and dirty irregular
comparison with Cabui or Candahar. GhuZnee
figured conspicuOusly in the Britith campaigns OF
1o4l-42 ana lSI9SO- Ii was captured by Gen.
stewart In April OF the last-named year. after
battle in which the Afghans lost over 900 men,
Ills wounded.
More important even than GbuZnee is the pos
session or the khyber Pass, a mountain dehle %
miles In length, in which there are few places
where an army can find cover. For distance OF
81 miles beyond Ali Musjid, entering the Pass
from she direction OF Peshawur, the dehle retains
its difficult character, the width OF the gorge va
Tying from go to 400 feet and the hills on either
side about l,5O0 feet in height, being saty bare,
and 10 all appearances inaccessible. The bed OF
the torrent is likely To be filled with sudden fail
OF rain, when the stream that ordinarily creepS
tnrougn tne gravel sometimes disappearing COM
pletely, swellS to raging violence. Beyond this
section comes the Lala Beg Valley, six miles in
length and mile and half in BREADTH and
In which there Is great tope or artificial mound,
on the north OF the road. At the western end OF
the valley the road contracts again till there is
scarcely room for two meeting camels to pass. In
this section, for distance OF mile and hail. the
traveller passes along gallery l. feet wide with
on one hanc a towering cliff, and on the other
sheer and yawning precipice. He then enters the
section known as The Lundi Khana Pass, in which
Is situated the village OF the same name. In the
Lund khana the greatest height, 3:S13 feet above
the sea level and rise of 2..eOS feet since leaving
Peshawur-fS reached. In ascending this pass the
Invaders encounter greatest natural obstacles OF
the keyber. The ascent is over such a narrow
steep, and rugged path that guns can be drawn up
IL only by men, and by them only after the road
way has been carefully prepared. The descent |
khana
10 the end OF the defile at Dhaka miles dis
fant. is over practica bic road and is difficult
although the descent Is sharp. The Khyber Pass
has played a vital part In ali the Afghan wars. |